Statement by President Barroso on the transatlantic trade negotiation mandate

Speaking following today's Commission meeting, President Barroso made the following remarks on the recommendation to the Council to authorise the launch of negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the EU and the United States that the Commission agreed today:

"Today we've made important progress on what I believe is a game changer, not only in transatlantic terms, but for the world in terms of trade.

We have agreed on a draft negotiating mandate for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Now I hope that the Member States will give the Commission the mandate to negotiate as soon as possible. We would like to start negotiations this Summer. And I think the benefits for Europe and for America are really very impressive.

According to a study just published today, 80% of the gains [from this deal] can come from reducing the regulatory burden and bureaucracy, and it's an agreement that goes well beyond tariffs, it also covers services and procurements. So it's an agreement of a new type that I believe can be of extreme importance for Europe, for the United States and for global trade."